Automatic railroad grade-crossing signal



June 11, 1929. w. J. CARDWELL AUTOMATIC RAILROAD GRADE CROSSING SiGNAL Filed April 28, 192s: s Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor We]: Ca rdwe ZL,

Attornqy June 11, 1929.

W. J. CARDWE ZLL AUTOMATIC RAILROAD GRADE CROSSING SIGNAL Filed April 28, 1928 S Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor W327i Ca rdwe Z Attorney Patented June .11, 1929.

UNITED. STA ES PATENT lorries.

WXLLIAFI J. CARDXVELL, OF OW'OSSO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB 0F ONEJEFTH TO STANLEY D.AY,'ONE-TTENTH TO CLAUDE 0. DAY, ONE- TEETH TOfIJEONAB/D A. SHALL,

y AND ONE-TENTH TO ARTHUR- DURR', ALL OF OWOSSO; lviIIll-IIGAE.v

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD eaanncnossnse arenas.

Application filed April 28, 1328. Serial No.j2i3,563.

The present invention relatesto a railroad grade crossing signal and has for its prime object to provide a structure which is automatically operated by the train to eliminate the danger of grade crossing accidents as far as possible and to reduce the toll of human lite at such grade crossing accidents.

Another very important object of the invention resides in the provision of an auto matic railroad grade crossing signal 01" the class described which is simple in its construction, strong and durable, inexpensive, to manufacture, may be installed without d1s-' 7 I on the upper end 01 the column 7 to incline tin-hing the roadbed and may be maintained at low cost, and will prove thoroughly ellicie'nt and reliable in its operation. i

lVith the above and numerous other objects in View as will appear as the description procoeds, theinvention resides in certain'novel features or construction, and in the combination; and arrangement or parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure l xis atop plan viewot the railroad grade crossing showing my improved signalling m ans associated therewith,

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section through the lower portion of the signal post, t

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section taken substantially on. the line 33'ot Figure 1,

Figure dis an enlarged detail sectiontaken substantially onthe line of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse detail vertical section taken substantially on the line 5- 5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail vertical longitudinal section taken substantially on the line (i-6 of: Figure 1, v v (Figure 7 is a sectional View taken sub stantially on the line 77 of Figure 8,

Figures is a detail eleyation of theupper portionot the signal post showing the signalarm,

Figure 9 is a'horizontal section taken substantially on the line 9 t) of Figure 8,

Figure lOis a transverse horizontalsection talren'substantially on the'line l010of Figure 8, r J I v 'f Figure 11 is an enlarged detail section Figure' 1,

taken substantially on thedine 11 11 of Figure 12 i a sectional View taken substantially on the line 12%12 of Figure 3,

and t Figure 13 is a detail elevation of a modified term of the tram actuated mechanism.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the numeral 5 denotes the rails ofarailroad trackandthe numeral (3 a grade crossingsuc'h as the roadway or the like. A s1 gnal post disposed-1n one corner formed by the track and the roadway a suitable distance from the adjacent rail of the track as indicated to advantage in Figure l and this post comprises a hollow column 7 rising from and con'nnunicating with a casing 8;

A pair of lined signal arms 9 are mounted tion'b etweenthe signal arm 9 so as not to be Visible and rests on the bottom 9. A bracket 1.5 rises from the-bottoinot the casingy8 and has I sable therein a bell crank lever in; to one cndofwhic'h ispivoted as at 17 or otherwise suitably mounted, a rod. 18. the other end of which isotl'set as at 19 to entendthrough a slot 20 in the upper portion of the colun'm. The signal arm lOjis provided with a lateral projection 21 with which the upper extremityof the olifset'portion 19 may engage for lifting or swinging upwardly the signalarm 10 to the signalling-position as shown in Figure 8. g i 4 A bracket 23 rises fromthe 'bottomof the casings and has rocka'ble therein a bell crank 21- and to one end or which is pivotedas at end 27 or the likeprojectingthrough a slot 28 in the column andtheeXtremity of th s ollsetportion' 27 is adapted to engage the other projection 21 for, holding the signal farm 10 in signalling posi will be more yon apparent'as the'description proceeds An operating bar '30 is disposed along-the outside o't one of the rails 5to one sidefot the roadway 6 at any desired distance therefrom v 7 se mounted, a rodQttextcndingup through the column and having an offset 'iect slightly above the ball of the rail and short teeth 34 are provided on the operating bars to limit their upward movement by engaging underneath the hall of the rail as is indicated in Figure 10.

The operating bars are each provided with a pair of rack bars or the like depending therefrom one to each side of the center guide and meshing with the pinion 36. In the illustration of the invention as contemplated by Figure 1 wherein the train is represented as travelling in the direction of the arrow 3?, the rack bars to the left end side of the rail of the roadway 6 engage the pinions 26 at their right side as indicated in Figure 11.

Therefore as the train travels in this direction and is on or over the operating bar 30 the stop signal is actuated and remains in this position until the train or engine is upon the release and operating har beyond or just over the crossing in the direction the train is travelling and the train or engine upon this bar unlocks the signal arm 10 and also pulls rod 73, pushing up rod 19 and holding the signal arm 10 in the position untilrthetrain or engine is off the release and operate the bar then the signal arm goes back to normal, to be hid between the caution blades or arms 9.

The rack bars 35 however to the right hand side of the roadway 6, engage their respective pinions 36 to the left as is indicated in Figure 3. The purpose of these features will appear as the description proceeds.

An elongated casing 38 is mounted alongside of the operating bar 30 as indicated to advantage in Figure 1 but particular attention to Figure 6 where it will be seen that a shaft 39 is journaled through one side of the casing 88 and one of the 'pinions 36 is fixed thereto at the outer end of the shaft.

On the inner end of the shaft 39 is formed a crank 40 to which is pivoted asat 41 a bar 42 guided to move up and down in an opening 48 in the guide plate 44. The bar 42 is provided to the left of the plate 44 with an open ing 45. A red 46 is slidable through an opening 47 in the right hand end of the casing 38' and is slidable through openings 48, in the ends of the casing 8 and an intermediate portion of the rod 46 is pivotally engaged as at 49 to the bell crank lever 16. y

The end of the rod 46 in the casing 38 is pivoted as at 50 a catch 51 extending through the slot 52 in the upperportion or the plate 44 and having an offset end 58 engag-cable in the hole 45. A shaft 55 is journaled through the inner side of the casing 38 and has the other pinion 36 of the operating bar assembly 30 mounted thereon and the inner end of this shaft is formed with a crank 56 having an offset terminal 59 engageable under the catch 51.

Referring to 'lfiigure 6 it will be seen that the shaits 39 and always rock in a clockwise direction when the operating bar 30 is released. Attention is now directed to Figures 3 and 4. The immoral 58 denotes a casing located alongside the release and operatin;* bar 31 and having shaft 59 and 60 journaliat to one side thereof with the pinion 36 thereon actuatedby the rack bars 35 of the operating bar 31. 1

casing and is engaged with the righthandend of the catch rod 61-3 and normally holds the parts so that the shoulder 64 is disengaged from the abutment 65. A crank GT is provid ed on the inner end of the shaft 60 and has an offset terminal 68 cngageable with the catch rod 63 for dislodging its shoulder 64 from the abutment 65 as will appear later in the description. 7

The shaft 59 is provided with a crank 69 which is pirotally engaged as at 70 with a link 71. This link 71 is pivotallyengaged as at 7 2 with a rod 73 slidable through the opening 6i and pirotally engaged as at 74 with the hell crank lever 24. v

The rod 73 is slidable through the right hand wall opening 48 of the casing S. It is thought that the details of construction have been, descriliied sufiiciently and now follows the o eration.

depress the left hand end of the operating bar 36 and thereby actuate the shaft 39 causing the crank 40 to swing ina clockwise direction and pull the bar 42, the catch 51 an d the rod 46.

Therod 46, of course, rocks the bell crank lever 16 and pushes upwardly on the rod 18 so that the signal arm 10 is swung in the position shown in lligure 8. Nowthat the rod 46 is pulled the catch 63 rwill also be pulled so that its shoulder 64 engages with the abutment 65 so that the signal arm 10 is held in a signalling position and the train moves over the remaining portion of the trip bar 30 and Wrasse the shaft 55 will be rocked to swing the crank 56 in a clockwise direction and raise the catch ly on the rod 26 so that the upper end of said rod 26 will hold the arm 10 in a raised position.

As the train progresses further and de presses the right end 01 said bar 31, the shaft 130 will rock in a counter clockwise direction and the crank 07 will disengage the catch 63 troni the abutment 65 and the spring 66 will pull tlie'catch G3 to the right and also the rod l6 to the right thereby rocking the bell crank 16 in a clockwise directionand pulling down on the rod back to normal positionbut this will not atlect the signal because itis being now held by the rod 26.

When the train passes completely off the bar 30, the crank 56 will swing in a counter clockwise direction and allow the catch 51 to engage the opposite end 53 by gravity on the bar 42 and said bar- 12 will bemo'ved to its normal. position in Figure 0 by the bell crank 10 swingin in a counter clockwise direction so that the said end 53 will engage in the hole 15 ready for the next train.

It will also be seen that the crank 69 will swing in a cloclnvise direction to cause the rod 26 to be lowei'ed'thereby allowing the signal arm 10 to be lowered between the signal arms 9. It the train goes in'the opposite direction over crossing 6, the crank will be rocked The crank 59 7 but will bean idle element. would be rocked. and'would cause the raising of the signal. arm 10 as will be readily understood and then as the same reaches the operating bar 30 the crank'G would be rocked to raise the catch 51 so that the crank 40 and bar a2 would beeon'ie idle elements.

In Figure 13 I have shown a. modified form of the operating bar mechanism, the bar being indicated by the numeral 31 and having a pin and slot connection. 100 with abell crank 101 which is connected with a link 102 engaged ona crank 103 and. arranged to the Sim-n59. is

A link 10 1 is engaged with thebar 31 and with crank 105 on the aha-1160: It will be seen that this operating bar structure operates to the same advantage asth at previously de'-- scribed. i I

It isthought that the construction, opera, tion and advantages of the invention will now be quite apparent to those skilled in this art without a. more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail merely for the purposesv of cxemplification since in actual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in thestatement of the invention and the above description.

"It will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, and in the combina tion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as will be hereinafter claimed orsacriticing any of its advantages, as having one or more signal posts connected to by operating journals to both sides of the track, journaled to run iinder'the track, or a single post to be inthe center of the highway or to either side of the highway.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a signal, a hollow column, a signal arm rockalile through an opening in the top in the hollow column and having otl set upper ends extending through slots in the column, said signal having lateralprojectionswith which the upper ends of the rods are eiiwhich the upper ends of the rods are engageable, a casing on which the hollow column ismounted, bell cranks in the casing, one connected with each rod,'an (1 means for swinging the bell cranks.

3. In a signal, a hollow column, a signal of the hollow column, a pair of rods slidabl'e armrockable through an opening in the top of the hollow column, a pair of rods slidable in the hollow column and having otl'set upper able, a casing on which the hollow column is mounted, bell cranks in the casing, one con;- nccted with each rod, andmeans forswinging the bell cranks, and" means for holding the bell crank to the position to which they are swung by said means, means for swinging the other bell cranln'and means for then releasing the second mentioned means.-

4. Ina railroad'grade crossing signal, a

pair of spaced operating bars actuatable by the wheels of a train, a pair of rock shafts for each operating bar, means operatively connecting the bars and the shafts, a crank on one of the shafts of one" of said pair,

first operated by one otthe bars in the travel of the train on the track, a bar engagcdwith the crank, means slidably mounting the sec ends extending through slots in the column, said signal having lateral promotions with which the upper ends of the rods are engage-" first engaged by the wheel of the train, said rock shaft is rocked to swing the drank and pull the second bar and rod to cause the operation of the signal, a second catch on the rod, and an abutment with which the second catch is engaged when the rod is pulled, a spring for returning the second catch when the train is oil said one operating bar, a second one of the shafts of said pair operated by said one operating bar after operation of said first shaft of said first mentioned pair, one of the shafts of the other pair being actuatable by the other operatii'ig bar, a crank on said one shaft of said last mentioned pair, a rod connected to the crank of said last mentioned shaft, a second signalling OPGl'tliiillg means, means for operat-ively connecting the second signal operating means with the last mentioned rod and the second one of said shafts of said second mentioned pair being actuatable by the said other operating bar after the first,

mentioned shaft of said second pair, a crank on said last mentioned shaft of the second pair, and said crank being adapted for on gagement with said second catch.

In a railroad grade crossing signal, a pair of spaced operating bars actuatable by the wheels of a train, a pair of rock shafts for each operating bar, means operatively connecting the bars and the shafts, a crank on one of the shafts of one of said pair, first operated by one of the bars in the travel of the train on the track, a bar engaged with the crank, means slidably mounting the second mentioned bar, said second mentioned bar having a hole, a signal operating rod, a catch engaged with the rod and engageable with the hole, a signal, signal operating means therefor, means operatively connecting the signal operating means and the rod so that when said. one of said operating bars is first engaged by the wheel of the train, said rock shaft is rocked to swing the crank and pull. the second bar and rod to cause the operation of the signal, a second catchv on the rod, and an abutment with which the second catch is engaged when the rod is pulled, a springfor returning the second catch when the train is off said one operating bar, a second one of the shafts of said pair operated by said one operating bar after operation of said first shaft of said first mentioned pair, one of the shafts of the other pair being actuatable by the other operating bar, a crank on said one shaft of said last mentioned pair, a rod connected to the crank of said last mentioned shaft, a

second signalling operating means, means for operatively connecting the second signal operating meanswith the last mentioned rod and the second one of said shafts of said second mentioned pair being actnatable by the said other operating bar after the first mentioned shaft of said second pair, a crank on said last mentioned shaft of the second pair, and said crank being adapted for engagement with said second catch, and spring means associated with the operating bars normally holding them in a predetermined position.

6. In a railway grade crossing signal, a pair of spaced bars actuated by the wheels of a train, a pair of rock shafts, each rock shaft of said pair being associated with respective bars, means operatively connecting the bars and the shaft, a crank on one of the shanks, a signal operating rod, means the other of said bars, and having a crank thereon to relieve said catch.

7; In a railway grade crossing signal, a pair of spaced bars actuated by the wheels of a train, a pair of rock shaft-s, each rock shaftof said pair being associated with rc-,

spective bars, means operatively connecting the bars and the shajtt, a; crank on one of the shanks, a signal operating rod, means operatively con neeting the rod and the crank,

a signal, a signal operating means therefor, means operatively connecting the signal operating means and of said bars is operated, said one shaft is rocked to pull the-rod to causethe operation of the signal, a catch on the rod, an

abutment with which the catch is engaged when therod ispulled, mains for returning the catch to a disengaged position, and the other of said rock shafts being actuated by the other of said bars, and having a crank thereon tov receive said catch, guides associated with saidbars and spring means in thebars to hold the guides in normal predetermined position.

Intestimony whereof I aliix my signature.

- VILLIAM J. CARDVELL.

the rod so that when one 

